Sewer-cleaning apparatus.



QM U T in M AP W EG m N m H SEWER 0 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1908.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. H. STEWART. SEWER GLEANING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1908,

903,022. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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WILLIAM H. STEWART, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEWER-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed June 17, 1908. Serial No. 438,965.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. STEWART, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewer-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sewer-cleaning apparatus of the type shown in Letters Patent #768,867 granted to me August 30, 1904, and has for its object to improve the construction of the bucket, whereby it is made self-adjusting to better accommodate itself to the work to be performed, as for instance, to reduce its size when drawn into the pipe, and to increase its ca acity when drawn out; also to provide the se f-adjusting bucket with means for holding the parts thereof separated in such manner that they may be moved toward each other; to improve the construction of the cage whereby it is made self-adjusting to better accommodate itself to the work to be performed, as for instance, to reduce its size when drawn into the pi e, and to increase its size when drawn out; a so to provide a cage with a top runner and to provide yielding supporting means therefor; also to provide springs between the cage and bucket which act to ress the bucket against the o posite side of t e cage and hold it with any degree of pressure, at least one of the spr' s being adjustable for this purpose; a.so to construct a discharging-device for the bucket and to provide means for operating it whereby the contents of the bucket may be dischar ed; also to provide means for liftin the hue et so that after it has been moved along and has become filled it may be raised and then drawn out while in elevated position; also to rovide means for locking the bucket in its e evated position and for subsequently releasing it at difl'erent points to per- 7 mit it to fall so that it may be again drawn along the pipe and filled.

Figure l is a side elevation of a sewer-cleaning apparatus embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlar ed longitudinal vertical section of the hue et shown in l, the parts being in their normal open position.

ig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the parts being closed to reduce the size of the bucket. Fig. 4 is a side view of the bucket and cage. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bucket-inclosing cage. Fig. .6 is a detail of the means for attaching the spring and the parts of the bucket. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the bucket shown in Fig. 2, taken on thedotted line 7-7. Fig. 8 is a detail of the lockingdevice for holding the bucket in its elevated position. Fig. 9 is a detail showing modified means for raising the bucket.

The bucket consists of a lower part a and an upper part b, connected together loosely, preferably by sliding connections, to provide for movement of either with respect to the other in vertical planes, to thereby reduce the size of the bucket when drawing it into the pipe and to increase its capacity when drawing it out. The lower part :1 consists of a sheet metal'plate, made tapering from end to end, and curved transversely into seniicir- T cular form from end to end; and the upper part 6 consists of a flat plate made tapering from end to end corresponding to the taper iven to the lower part, and having its sides bent downward to extend over the u wardly extended sides of the lower part. it the small end of the bucket a closing plate I), is attached to one of the parts, it being herein shown as attached to the upper part b, and extended downwardly, but in view of the employment of a dischar in -device, to be hereinafter described, saic clbsing late may be omitted. The large end of the bucket is open.

As herein shown, the lower part a has at its forward end, at each side, an outwardly extended pin a, and said pins enter vertical slots 6 formed in the upwardly extended sides of the upper art I); and theupper part b has at its rear on extended pin 6, and said pins enter vertical slots a in the upper part. These pins may be riveted to the parts. In lieu of the in and slot connections herein shown, ot er forms of loose connections may be employed.

The bucket, constructed as described or in any e uivalent manner, is self-adjusting in that t e parts thereof are free to approach each other to thereby reduce the size of the bucket when it is drawn into the ipe, and to recede from each other and there y increase the capacity of the bucket when drawn out. The two parts of the bucket are normally held separated, as shown in F' 1 and 2, hence it is reducible. A coile 'spring 0 is provided at the rear end of the bucket, the

, at each side, an inwardly parts of the ca ends of which are extended to form arms, which are connected respectively to the upper and lower parts of the bucket, the action of which is to separate the said parts. As herein shown, the two arms res ectlvely enter tubes 0, c, which are rigi y secured to the up er and under sides of the bucket, and are he d securely therein by set-screws or otherwise. The position of the s rin may be adjusted with respect to the no et by moving its arms more or less into the tubes, and by such adjustment its action on the parts of the bucket ma be varied. The arms of the spring may, owever, be otherwise connected with the parts of the bucket. In lieu of the employment of the spring 0, for se arating the two parts of the bucket, any at er suitable means may be employed. The bucket is inclosed by a cage and is loosely connected thereto, as for instance, the ca e may have eyes (1 which engage the pins which are extended outwardly for this purose. The cage is made self-adjusting like the bucket, that is to say, it is reducible, and, as herein shown, it com rises an upper part and a lower part, sli ably connected together. The upper (part comprises a Pilll Of side bars or runners d connected together at their ends and at a point intermediate their length they are bent to form the eye d which receives the pivotin. The lower art comprises a pair of si bars or runners 5% (i each havi at each end an n right portion (1, and sai portions are exten ed up through holes in the u per part, so that the two parts are thus s ably connected together. Movement of the parts in a direction away from each other is limited by nuts d on the upper ends of the upright portions d. The two arts of the cage are normally held separated by springs d, which encircle the upright portions (1, and bear at their upper ends against the upper part of the cage and at their lower ends against the lower part thereof. By means of said springs the two e are permitted to close as ma be require when drawing the cage into an along the pipe. The cage has an eye 1, at each end, to which a cord, chain or equivalent d is connected, and by suitable windlasses said cords maybe 0 rated to move the cage along. Any suitab e means may be employed for operating ,the cords so that the bucket may be drawn into the sewer or other pipe any desired distance and then i fi 'h d to ma c e asarrange on po 1 upper part a .g'i eldingly supported toprunner n which is loosely connected by hnks as with said u per part, and said top runner is supports 1n elevated posltionb springs a, encircling guide-pins a who are secured to and project downwardly from the rimner and enter holes in the-.top part of the bucket. One of said springs bears at its upper and against the top of the bucket and the other spring bears at its upper end against the runner and at its lower end against an adjustable nut n arranged on an externally screwthreaded post a projecting upwardly from the top of the bucket which is made hollow to receive the lower end of the guide-pin a. By turning said nut the tension of the spring may be varied so that it will exert a reater or less pressure on the bucket. Provi ing an adjustable s ring at'the forward end on the bucket enabl es said forward end to be thrust down with greater or less pressure as may be reguired. As the top runner engages one si e of the pipe the springs n will act to force the bucket downward or in a direction away from the top runner with considerable pressure, so that the forward end of'the bucket will dig into the mud or other accumulation in the pipe and it is desirable to regulate the force exerted, hence ad'ustrnent of the. sprin at the forward end of t e bucket is provlde Normally the bucket is held pressed down against the lower part of the ea c b the pressure, but this ressure is variaile by the adjustment whic is rovided.

The bucket is erein shown as provided with a dischar device by which its contents ma be isc ar ed at any desired moment. e form 0? dischargin -device is herein shown for the purpose of ustrating my invention. It consists of a hoe-blade e, semicircular in shape, and of a size to approximately fit the rear end of the bucket, and extension plates 0, a, loosely connected to it, a 00 supporting-bar e also connected to it by means of which it may be 0 erated. The extension lates e, e are erein shown as curved ongitudinally to conform to the transverse curvature of the lower art of the ma bucket, and they each have a hoo e which extends throu h a suitable shaped hole in the hoe bla e e to connect it therewith loosely, so that as the hoe-blade is moved inward said extension plates will gradually rise 1 lo and finally occupy positions more or less at ri ht angles to the hoe-blade, and as the hoeb ads is drawn out they will gradually fall until they occupy approximately vertical positions. The en porting-bar e of the hoelade is arra ed horizontally in the upper part of the hue ct, and is slidabl connected therewith, it being arranged to s ide in bearings provlded on the under side of the top part. It is made longer than the bucket in order that it may support the hoe-blade as the latter is moved 1n and out for the full length of the bucket, and hence extends beyend the basket at each end. a

Means are provided for moving the dis charging-device, and, herein, cords e are connected to the opposite ends of the sliding support' -bar a, which extend in opposite ways, an pry pulling upon one or the other of these co s the barmay be moved in one lcasc t or the other direction to move the hoe-blade, In lieu of prow'ding the means These cords are or may be operated in substantially the same manner as the cords which are employed for moving the buckets. Orone cord only mav be employed, see Fig. 4, which is arranger to draw out the hoehlade against action of a return spring a", which is arranged on the end of the supporting-bar which projects from one end of the bucket.

When digging out a sewer or other pipe it is often times desirable to lift the bucket as soon as it has become filled, instead of dragging it along on the bottom of the pipe after it has become filled, and herein a cord 9 is extended from one to another manhole, which is held taut at the top part of the pi e and designed to serve as a runway for t e bucket. A carriage g is mounted on the runway having wheels 9 supported in brackets 9, arranged on the carriage, which engage and run along on the runway. To the ndcr side of the carriage the bucket is suspended by means whereby it ma be raised and lowered with respect to the carriage. As herein shown, a cord h is fastened at one end to the carriage, as at h, which passes under a pulley h arranged on top of the bucket, then under another pulley k also on top of the bucket, then over the pulley h, on the carriage, and is then carried to any suitable 1..eans by which it may be operated. Pulling upon this cord acts to lift the bucket and paying it out permits the bucket to fall b gravity. The distance it is allowed to fall may be regulated by limiting the amount of cord which is paid out.

The bucket may have arranged on it a latch 'i, which, when in its elevated position ill engage a hook i on the carriage, see Fig. so as to lock the bucket in its elevated position.

After the bucket has been drawn along and has become filled it is raised and locked in elevated position and is then drawn out and the contents of the bucket are discharged; then the bucket is returned, and on its return movement when it arrives at the proper place the hook on the carriage engages a block on the runway and is moved to relie latch and permit the bucket to fall.

The block j is movable along on the runway to occupy different positions thereon as may be required, and for the purpose of moving it along and for'locln'ng it on the runway in any position it may occupy a cam j is pivoted to it which is movable into and out of engagement with the runway, said cam having an arm 7" to which a cord 7" is attached. Pulling upon the cord 1" turns the cam and disengages the runway and also moves along the block, and releasing the cord permits the cam to be restored into locking engagement with the raceway by means of a spring 7, which is connected to its arm 7'.

1 for-lilting the bucket an inclined frame or block, see Fig. 9, may be placed in the pipe, at the bottom, adjacent a manhole, and the bucket raised by being dragged up onto said frame or block.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket com rising an n per part and a lower part, loose y connecte together and movable toward and from each other, substantial] as described.

2. In a sewer-c caning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket com rising an upper part and a lower part, slidab y connected together, substantially as described.

3. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket comprising a transversely curved tapering lower part and a flat tapering upper part having downwardly extended side portions overlying the lower part, and means or connecting said arts loosely together, substantially as descri ed.

4. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket corn rising an n per part and a lower part loose y connecte together and movable toward and from each other, and means for" normally se arating said parts, substantially as described 5. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket comprising an u per part and a lower part loose y connected togather and a sprmg for yieldingl holding said parts separated, substantia y as described.

6. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoo bucket and a bucket-inclosing cage to w 'ch said bucket is pivotally connected, adapted to be connected wit means for moving it along, substantially as described.

7. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket com rising an u per part and a lower art loosely connected togather, and movable toward and from each other, and a self-adjusting bucket-inclosing cage to which said bucket is loose] connected comprising an upper art and a lower part loosely connected toget er and movable toward and from each other, substantially as described.

8. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a self-- adjustin scoop bucket com rising an u per part an a lower part loose y connecte together and movable towardand from each other, and a self-adjusting bucket-inclosing cage to which said bucket is loose] connected comprising an upper art and a ower part loosely connected toget er and movable toward and from each other, and having means at its ends to which cords are connected by which it is moved along, substantially as deshown in Fig.

9. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket com rising an u per part an a lower part loose y connecte together and movable toward and from each other, and a self-adjusting bucket-inclosing cage to which said bucket is loosel connected comprising an upper part and a ower part slidably connected together and movable toward and from each other, substantially as described.

10. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket comprising an u per part and a lower part loose y connecte together and movable toward and from each other, and a self-adjustin bucket-inclosing cage to which said bucket 1s loosely connected comprising an upper part and a lower part loosely connected together and means for separating said parts, substantially as described.

11. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a selfadjusting scoop bucket comprising an u per part and a lower part loose y connects together and movable toward and from each other, and a self-adjust' bucket-inclosing cage to which said bucket is loosely connected comprising an upper art and a ower part loosely connected toget er, and springs for yieldingly separating said parts, substantially as described.

12. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a bucket, a bucket-inclosin cage aving a top runner arranged above t e bucket and connected at its ends to said cage, substantially as described.

13. In a sewercleaning apparatus, a bucket, a bucket-inclosing cage having a yieldingly supported top runner arranged above' the bucket and connected at its ends to said cage, substantially as described.

14. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a bucket, a bucket-inclosing cage aving a top runner connected at its ends to said cage an supporting-springs for said runner interposed.

between sai runner and the bucket, substantially as described.

15. In a sewer-cleanin bucket, a cage to which sai bucket is pivotally connected at one end a top runner connected at its ends to said cage and springs inte osed between said runner and bucket Whi act with a downward pressure on said bucket substantially as described.

16. In a sewer-cleanin apparatus, .a bucket, a cage to which sai bucket is pivotally connected at one end, a top runner connected at its ends to said cage, and springs inte used between said'runner and bucket whidfi act with a downward pressure on said bucket, and means for adjusting one of said springs substantially as described.

17. n a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a bucket, a bucket-inclosing cage, a top runner connected to said cage, means for conapparatus, a

necting the bucket with said cage, and springs interposed between said runner and bucket for yicldingly su porting the runner and for pressing the bucket against the bottom of the cage, substantially as described.

18. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a bucket, a bucket-inclosing cage, a top runner connected to said ea c, means for connecting the bucket with t e cage, springs interposed between the runner and bucket, at points near the opposite ends thereof, for yieldingly supporting the runner and for pressing the bucket against the bottom of the cage, and means for adjusting the pressure of one of said springs, substantially as described.

19. In a sewer-cleaning ap aratus, an expansible bucket, an expansib e ea c for the ucket, and means for connecting t e bucket with the cage, substantially as described.

20. In a sewer-cleaning a paratus, a bucket adapted to be connecte with means for moving it along and a discharging-device contained in the bucket and movable lengthwise thereof, substantially as described.

21. In a sewer-cleaning a paratus, a bucket adapted to be connecte with means for moving it along, a discharging-device contained'm the bucket, and means connected with the discharging device for moving it lengthwise the bucket in opposite ways, substantially as described.

22. In a sewer cleaning a paratus, a.

bucket adapted to be connects withmeans for moving it along, of increasing dimensions from end to end, and an extensible discharging-device contained in the bucket and movable len thwise thereof, substantially as describ 23. In a sewer-cleaning a paratus, a bucket adapted to be connecte with means for moving it alon a dischagng-blade contained therein an the sliding bar to which said blade is connected, havin means for connectin it with means for s 'ding it, to move the lades lengthwise the bucket, substantially as described.

24. In a sewer-cleaning av paratus, a bucket adapted to be connected with means for moving it along, a discharging-blade con tained tlxerein having adisustable extensions and means for moving saiid blade, substantially as described.

25. In a sewer-cleaning apparatus, a 'carriage arranged on a runway, a bucket, means connecting said bucket with said carriage whereby at may be raised and lowered, a .locking device on the 'ca'uriage for holding the bucket in its elevated position, means the runway at any itioh thereon it may 'name to th is specification, in the presence of occupy, and a col-H connected with said two subscrlbmg wltnesses. lockm%-device for operating it to disengage i WILLIAM H STEWART the re easing-device from the runway and 5 to draw said releasing-device along, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as described. 1 B. J. Non-1s, In testimony whereof, I have signed my H. B. DAVIS. 

